Im Tam Nickson, and yell be the professor they
telled me o.
Since you are in love with her you must needs make
a rogue of herhusband. I heard some silly tale of a duel, she said. Hes a dacent
auld body that gangs his ain gait like Tam Nicksonand meddles little wi
Hungrygrain.
Hes a wise man to go armedin a den of thieves like
Yonderdale. Meantime, since I see you are recovered, I shallreturn to bed. She has
few friendsand none of her own age, and the world is a closed book to
her.
Thethreesome draibbled in at the back o fower
oclock. Some say the Deils deid and buried in Kirkcaldy, Bob
quotedoracularly.
Its no often a learned man comes to Yonderdale.
You, Bob, must try the manse, for you know the road and you knowthe
minister.
Was it shepherding him into afatal corner? Imust
meet my friends at once, tell them what little I know, andprepare a plan. I hate the
fellow like poison, but hes no hedge-murderer. Therest o Yonderdale has ither things
to think o.
A mansunco kempeckle gaun up tillt, but once hes
there he can spy outa Hungrygrain.
She had the same softintonation, the same slight
drawling lisp. Presentlythey went abroad and dwelt in beautiful places to which war
had notcome.
Oh, I cannot explainto you the bottomless futility
of such ways.
And then one day it came true, andthe fairy prince
rode up.